about horton awards

The Dance Resource Center strives to recognize the best-of-the-best the dance community has to offer. Each year, the DRC presents the Lester Horton Dance Awards -- an evening devoted to celebrating Southern California's dance community and those who keep it thriving. The Horton Awards recognize professionals -- from performers to writers to choreographers to photographers -- who enhance our dance community in myriad ways.

Re-envisioning the Hortons

November 4, 2011

Dear Friends,

I am writing to let you know about a recent development in this year's Dance Resource Center programming. After an extended dialogue between our Board of Directors, staff and various community advisors, the Board has voted unanimously to postpone the next Horton Awards until 2013 in order to re-envision and improve our bylaws, voting procedures and awards ceremony.

Please note that performances taking place before December 31st, 2011, which would normally be eligible for nomination in the 2012 Horton Awards, will still be considered for awards.

Taking a step back from the intensity of event production this year will allow us to dedicate both human and financial resources to better serving our community. In addition to a vastly improved Horton Awards in 2013, you can look forward to enhanced artist support, new member benefits and increased access to dance-related news and information.

The DRC aims to remain as inclusive and transparent as possible as we undergo this next phase of planning, and will keep you informed as we reach new milestones. We are working to establish an advisory committee of dedicated community members interested in lending their voices to the dialogue. If you are interested in serving on this committee, or if you simply wish to send feedback, please email me directly at membership@drc-la.org anytime.

On behalf of the Staff and Board of Directors of the Dance Resource Center, I would like to thank you in advance for sharing your perspectives, thoughts and ideas with us as we move through this exciting transition.

Warm wishes,

Shayna Keller, DRC Coordinator

Announcing the 2010 Finalists!

The 2010 Lester Horton Awards took place on May 15, 2011, at Live Arts Los Angeles! Thank you to all who came out to celebrate these finalists and the southern California dance community!

Congratulations to the 2009 Winners!

And thanks to all who came out to celebrate our community!

More about the Horton Awards Process:

Step 1: Membership Nominates
Members have until December 31 to submit nominations to the Horton Voting Committee at hvc@drc-la.org.

After all the submissions have been gathered into a Nomination Ballot, the ballot will be sent to the full Membership of the Dance Resource Center for voting. The artists who receive the most membership votes in each category will then be checked for eligibility factors. Those who pass the eligibility requirements will be declared the official Horton Award finalists and will be published on the DRC website and in DanceNews. At that time, the DRC will request a video of each nominated production for use by the Special Jury. The video should be sent to the DRC at PO Box 41092, Los Angeles, CA 90042.

Step 2: Special Jury Votes
The Special Jury will review the videos of the Nominees and select a winner in each category to be announced at the DRC's annual Horton Awards Event.

Special Jury Members of the Horton Voting Committee cannot be Nominees or closely related personally or professionally to Nominees. Therefore, only after the Nominees have been determined can the Horton Voting Committee select a Special Jury from the pool of eligible applicants. Anyone wishing to be considered for inclusion in the Special Jury will be asked to submit a resume.

We Need Your Help
If you have recommendations for Special Jury participants or any other aspect of the new Horton Awards voting process, we ask you to take the time to email us your thoughts under the heading "New Horton Process" to hvc@drc-la.org.